Most "faulty" Starlink Minis we see in the workshop aren't faulty at all. Nine times out of ten it's the power, the account or the view of the sky. Work through this guide before you assume the worst.
Quick diagnosis
| What's happening | Most likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No light on the Mini at all | No power reaching the dish | Check every plug and the fuse. Make sure the DC plug is pushed fully home. |
| Starts up, then drops out or reboots | Voltage too low at start-up | Use a step-up adaptor, a shorter cable or a better connection. |
| Works while driving, dies when you stop | Battery voltage sags with the engine off | Step-up adaptor. This is the classic sign. |
| Cuts out when the fridge or lights come on | Other gear pulling the voltage down | Step-up adaptor, or a dedicated power circuit for the Mini. |
| App says "trouble loading account information" | Usually a typo in your account email | See the email fix below. |
| Regular short dropouts | Obstructions | Run the obstruction check and move the dish. |
| Fine in the morning, drops out in the arvo heat | Overheating | Make sure the dish has airflow. Avoid enclosed covers. |
Power problems: the number one cause
The Mini accepts 12–48V, but 12V is right at the bottom of that range. At start-up it briefly pulls up to about 60W, which is about 5 amps at 12V. Thin cables, long runs, loose cig plugs and tired batteries all knock the voltage down, and the dish gives up.
Test it: plug the Mini into its 240V power supply at home. If it runs perfectly there, the dish is fine and your 12V setup is the problem.
Fix it: a step-up adaptor raises the voltage before it travels up the cable, so the dish gets clean, steady power whatever your battery is doing. Our Plug & Play adaptors have our own circuit board inside, unlike many generic imported power supplies. See Cable length & voltage drop.
Account problems: the email typo
If you've never received a single email from Starlink, not even in spam, there's a good chance the email address was mistyped during setup. Your account exists, but it's tied to an inbox nobody can open.
- Go to the Starlink login page and choose Forgot password.
- Pick the SMS option and enter the code sent to your mobile.
- Once you're logged in, correct your email in account settings.
The app should then load your account and the dish will finish setting up within a few minutes.
Remember, your Starlink account password (for logging in) and your Wi-Fi password (for connecting devices) are two different things.
What the light means
- Slow blink: powered and working normally
- No light: no power reaching the Mini
- Fast blink for a few seconds: factory reset in progress
Still stuck?
- Check all connections are fully seated.
- Turn it off, wait 30 seconds and power it back up.
- As a last resort, factory reset by holding the reset button for 3+ seconds until the light blinks fast. You'll need to set your Wi-Fi name and password again.